Projectile



s. Wl L.EY

PROJECTILE Jan. 2, 1934 Filed June l5. 1932 InvET-Ltnr, 5 Tl'LuEl mi@ m/fmy Attorney Patented Jan. 2, 1934 1,941,590 PBOJECTILE Samuel Wiley, Metuchen, N. J.

Application June 13, 1932.

Serial No. 616,940

Claims. (Cl. 102-12) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for ,the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a projectile and more particularly it has reference to that class of muzzle-loading projectiles wherein the gascheck forms a container for the propellent charge.

With modern weapons muzzle-loading projectiles are employed with trench mortars, gas shell projectors such as the Livens projector and dischargers for grenades. Usually the projectile carries the propelling charge which may be disposed in a container that serves as a gas check and the exploding or bursting charge is set oi by means of a percussion or time fuse. A somewhat similar projectile is also used as a flare as shown in the patents to Driggs 1,782,291, and 1,782,292 of November 18, 1930.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a projectile of this character in which a powder time train and the propelling charge are simultaneously ignited by the primer. The device is intended primarily though not limited to a pyrotechnic signal.

A further object of the invention is to form the base of the projectile in such a manner that it may be conveniently associated with a fuse body, a gas check and a retainer for the propellent charge.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combina.- tion of elements described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this speciiication.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a projectile constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the action of the gas check.

Figs. 3, d and 5 are fragmentary longitudinal sectional views showing various modications of the base ci the projectile.

Referring to Figs. l and 'the projectile com= prises a cylindrical body 5 "Leaving a base plug 6 inserted in its 'rear end. body and plug are secured a preferred manner ci establishing the conn; tion consisting in disposthe rear margnai portion or the body in a peripherie?. groove t :formed in the ping. The end oi the mar portion i? seats against the perpendicular rear wall 9 of the groove while the front wall 10 of the groove is inclined to insure and facilitate fthe formation of aitight joint between the body and plug. l

The base plug includes a tubular stem 11 or 60 fuse body whose bore 12 extends into the base plug where the plug is of appreciable thickness.

A powder time train 13 is placed in theforward portion of the bore 12 and a primer 14 is placed in the rear portion thereof. An axially disposed port l5 establishes communication between the bore and the interior of the body 5 and enables the ash from the time train to be transmitted to an expelling or other charge 16 in the body 5.A A radially disposed flash passage or port 17 in 70 the stem 11 between the primer and time train establishes communication with a container 18 on the rear of the base plug and enables the ame from the primer to be transmitted to a propellent charge 19 in the container. 75

In Figs. 1 and 2 the container consists of a pressed metal cup 20 centrally apertured as at 21 to t over the stem 11 and against the base plug and closed by an imperforate cover 22 also mounted on the stem 11. 'I'he rim of the cover fits loosely on the brim of the cup, the joint being preferably rabbeted as indicated at `23. VThe cover is held in place by means of ya nut 24 threaded on the outer end of the stem 11.

Where the projectile is to constitute a pyrotechnic signal the contents of the body 5 comprise an illuminant 25, a parachute l26 attached thereto and the expelling charge 16.

In operation the projectile is inserted in the muzzle of a suitable weapon and is red by the impact of its fall on a fixed ring pin the breech of the weapon or by means of a manually operated firing pin. The iiash from the primer ignites the propellent charge 19 and the powder time train 13. The pressure resulting from the evolution of gases upon combustion of the propellent charge expands the side walls of the container 18 into engagement with the bore of the weapon whereby a gas check is established during the time that the projectile is travelling through the bore. -The gas pressure escaping from the container and conlned in rear oi the Vprojectile propels it from the weapon .in the usual manner. When the powder time train has burned through it ignites the expelling charge 16 which ejects the illuminant and parachute from the body 5. During .the actionor the propelling and expelling charges the connections 7, d, 9, le between the body 5 and plug 6 is not disrupted. le

wall 27 of the container for the propellent charge is integral with the base -plug 28.

In Fig. 4 the base plug 29-is constituted by a diaphragm within the cylindrical body 30 and cooperates therewith to provide the propellent charge container 31. The stem 32 is integral with the diaphragm. In this arrangement the projectile is fabricated from a single piece ot metal, preferably aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and is formed by the extrusion process.

In Fig. 5 the body 33 and tubular stem 34 are integral, being formed by the extrusion method. The charge container 35 is similar to that of Fig. 1. The cover 36 for the container and the nut 37 are formed as a unit.

1. A projectile comprising a body, a base plug inserted in the rear end of the body and having lon the stem and tting over the cup, means for retaining the cover 'in place, a propellent charge vin the cup, and a flash passage in the stem establishing communication between the bore of the stem andthe cup.

2. A projectile comprising a body, a base plug inserted in the rear end of the body and attached thereto, a tubular stem on the base plug and in counication with 'the interior ofthe Latine@ In the modication shown in Fig. 3 the side body, a powder time train in the stem, a primer in the stem, a cup mounted on the stem and seated on the base plug, said cup having an expansible side wall to serve as a gas check, a cover mounted on the stem and iitting over the cup, means for retaining the cover in place, a proy pellent charge in the cup, and a ash passage in side wall to serve as a gas check and having a A central tubular stem in communication with the container and with the interior of the body, an imperforate cover for the container, a propellent charge in the container, a primer in the stem, a powder time train in the stem, and means for transmitting the ash from the primer to the propellent charge. i

4. A projectile comprising a body, a base plug xed to the rear end the body and including a cup-'shaped propellent charge container having an expansible side wall to serve-as a gascheck y and a central fuse container, arid a cover for the propellent charge container.

5. A projectile comprising a hollow body, an integral diaphragm in the body adjacent the rear end thereof, a tubular stem extending rearwardly i from' the diaphragm, a fuse in the stem, a cover mounted on the stem and ttingon the rear end of the body, and a propellent charge between the diaphragm and cover.

SAMUEL WILEY. 

